Voting could offer relief in Ferguson

By Hank Corbett

Published: Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at 12:05 PM.

Wherever, in the United States, civil unrest rears its ugly head, an analysis will likely reveal that less than 20 percent of the aggrieved community bothered to vote in any previous elections; and, that few residents can even recall the name of their mayor, governor or councilmen.

Our Constitution provides equal rights and opportunities for all citizens. Minority populations are denied their rights only if they choose to relinquish them.

I know that there are many community organizations throughout North Carolina. If these organizations truly want to be effective, they will attempt to educate their members and encourage them to participate in regular elections.

My thoughts about the events surrounding the shooting death of a young black man in Ferguson, Mo., have not necessarily involved the protests or even the actual shooting, itself. My thoughts are centered upon how in the world such an environment could even reach the point that it exists in Ferguson.

Residents’ complaints are that their police department is disrespectful and even hostile to the black community and that the people do not have representation in the local government. The black residents of Ferguson appear to be unanimous in their belief that this untenable situation has existed for many years.

The irony in all of this is that 63 percent of the local population is black; yet, the mayor is white. Of the 54 police officers in the local department, only three are black.

Of course, there should be no issue simply because the mayor happens to be white. Corruption and incompetence can come with mayors of any demographic — of any skin color. But, aside from the police shooting of the black youth, the paramount sentiment of the community is that the government in Ferguson is not responsive to the needs of all of the community and that the black community has been dealt with unfairly and, in many cases, with hostility for years.

The people are demanding change. Ironically, change has been within the grasp of Ferguson residents for many years. Change comes in the form of regular elections. All citizens have a civic responsibility to be aware of their representatives in government and how these representatives stand on the various issues. And they have a civic responsibility to vote.

The black community in Ferguson is not a minority. They are the majority in Ferguson, Mo. With the vote, they have the power to throw out their current representatives and to re-organize the city government and the police department. The current situation should not exist.

Wherever, in the United States, civil unrest rears its ugly head, an analysis will likely reveal that less than 20 percent of the aggrieved community bothered to vote in any previous elections; and, that few residents can even recall the name of their mayor, governor or councilmen.

Our Constitution provides equal rights and opportunities for all citizens. Minority populations are denied their rights only if they choose to relinquish them.

I know that there are many community organizations throughout North Carolina. If these organizations truly want to be effective, they will attempt to educate their members and encourage them to participate in regular elections.